Winter is Coming, Tonight's Debate & Stuff You Should Take Away From Your Kids

Welcome to the inaugural issue of News for Parents!  

This is the resource I wish I’d had when I was in the thick of parenting young children, to help me parent “smarter,” not harder. 

Let’s begin by tackling fall and winter viruses and what you can do to be prepared.

Winter is Coming

Covid-19 (CDC & AAP recommend: 6 months and up)

The COVID-19 pandemic may be over, but the virus is here to stay. Like the flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccinations are updated yearly to combat the most common strains.

Good to Know

• Many areas are currently experiencing high COVID-19 rates  
• Vaccines may not be available at pediatricians' offices due to storage requirements
• Check with local health departments or pharmacies for vaccine availability

Flu (CDC & AAP: 6 months and up & pregnant women)

There are two options for the flu vaccine: a shot or a nasal spray.

Flu Shot (Inactive Influenza Vaccine or IIV)

• Made of inactivated viruses
• Consult a doctor if you have egg allergies or chronic illnesses 

Nasal Spray (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or LAIV)

• Contains live, weakened virus
• Not suitable for those with compromised immune systems or certain medical conditions
• Only needle-free option available in the U.S

Important to Know:

• The AAP recommends either option for this year
• Try to get vaccinated by Halloween for optimal protection (it takes two weeks to build immunity)
• Last year's flu peak was in late December

RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (CDC & AAP: Pregnant women & children under 8 months*)

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations for infants in the U.S., according to the CDC.

The FDA approved new immunizations for the virus last year.

Abrysvo (for pregnant women)

• For women who will be 32-36 weeks of pregnant between September-January
• Provides passive protection to infants, up to six months
• Women who were vaccinated in a previous pregnancy and are pregnant again do not need the vaccine; baby does after birth

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) for infants

• Contains monoclonal antibodies to help fight the virus
• *For infants up to 8 months old, or 8-19 months with certain risk factors

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

If you have older kids, they may need a pertussis booster, as immunity wanes over time.  

So far this season, cases have risen four-fold from last year, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

More on this from Axios.

We are just over a month away from the next presidential election. Do you know who you’re voting for?  

On Tuesday, vice-presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) will meet for their only debate.

It will air on CBS at 9 PM ET, moderated by Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

What time is the VP debate? Everything to know for Vance v Walz

Tuesday night’s head-to-head will be their first and only showdown in the 2024 presidential election cycle.

BBC News

Walz and Vance are both parents, with Walz having two children and Vance three.

When comparing their records in office, Walz has a much stronger history of instituting and championing policies that positively impact children and families.

However, it’s important to note that Vance has only been in office for nearly two years, while Walz served six terms in Congress and has been Minnesota’s governor for almost eight years – a lot more time to get things done.

Vice-President Kamala Harris and Walz are campaigning on several specific reforms. They want to permanently expand the federal child tax credit, raise the tax credit for newborns to $6,000, and cap out-of-pocket childcare expenses to 7% for qualifying families, far less than what most of those families are paying now.

As president, Trump signed a Democrat-led bill providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers. The Trump/Vance ticket has offered little to no specifics on plans for the child care tax credit, affordable child care, or expanding paid leave.

Since we're heading into a VP debate, let's look at what Vance and Walz have done during their time in office, and their comments on childcare issues and more.

As Minnesota's governor, Walz:

• Allocated $750 million of a $17 billion budget surplus in 2023 to invest in pre-K programs and make child care more affordable
• Expanded the state tax credit to $1,750 per child, the highest in any state, with no limit on the number of children a family can claim; this policy is expected to reduce Minnesota’s child poverty rate by one-third
• Signed a law approving up to 20 weeks of paid time off to care for a child, or family member, or recover from illness
• Allocated $6 million to increase childcare capacity
• Invested $316 million over two years to boost wages and benefits for childcare workers, with plans to allocate $130 million annually thereafter

As a senator, Vance:

• Sponsored bills to provide leave for the spontaneous loss of an unborn child
• Sponsored legislation to prohibit gender-affirming care for minors and limit federal funding liability for related procedures
• Introduced measures to protect children on social media by disabling addictive features and safeguarding personal data
• Proposed legislation to prevent employers from forcing employees who stay home after the birth of a child to repay health insurance premiums received while on leave

Vance’s Views, Ideas & Other Interesting Tidbits:

• Has offered limited specifics on child care and family policies
• Refers to Democrats as “anti-child” and Republicans as “pro-family”
• Advocates for increasing birth rates
• Proposes incentives for parents to stay home with their children
• Has called for raising the child tax credit to $5,000
• Missed the August 2024 Senate vote on expanding the child tax credit
• Previously stated in 2021 that teachers without children “really disturb” him
• Believes parents should have more voting power, suggesting additional votes for each child
• Supports lowering employment requirements for childcare workers to address labor shortages, and encourages families to rely on relatives for babysitting to "help out"

Thousands of products are recalled every year due to hazards like injury, suffocation, and more. 

You can sign up for monthly product recall alerts at Kids in Danger, a non-profit group founded by a couple who lost their son, Danny, after a recalled crib collapsed on him. 

I will do my best to share what I know here every week. 

Recent recalls include:

• Dynacare Baby Powder (potential asbestos contamination)
• Bright Builder Fort Kits (battery hazard)
• Baby Tummy Time Gallery (phthalates violation)
• MJKSARE High Chairs (entrapment and fall hazards)
• Newmemo Children’s Ring Sets (lead and cadmium hazards)

Do you want to research a product or report a product safety issue? Go here: https://www.saferproducts.gov/

And finally, a series I'd like to call Kid Latin. 

When learning to speak, my kids accidentally made up cute words that we use to this day for fun. Here's one we love:

I hope you found this information useful! If so, would you share this newsletter with a friend who might appreciate it? 

Hang in there,  

Huma